In the actual spreadsheet, most of the items include the URL built into the title, specially for most of your suggestions as you are always kind enough to provide a link. Without the URL to point you to the specific recording, you may not end up with the quoted "stunning" version.

If there was interest, I will post the actual spreadsheet on a file sharing sight somewhere. However, I still do not promise enough precise information in the ones that do not have a URL and I certainly can't promise to keep the list maintained.

My goal was just to get people thinking and maybe searching a few out, as you have often inspired us to do.

FYI,My classical collection now consists of a meager 20 or so selections from this actual list and perhaps another dozen or more I came across independently. But you have to start somewhere, right?

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With great power comes Awesome irresponsibility.

It's an old re-master of an even older 1950s recording so you still hear the analog hiss but the sound quality is excellent. Of particular interest is an interesting commentary on the recording of the cannon fire and samples of how they recorded it several times to get the most realistic effect. The difference in the samples is more than obvious.

There is also commentary on the recording of the very stunning bell work and on Wellington's Victory but I haven't made it that far yet.

Between the cannon fire and the bells, your system will get a real workout.

Warning to the feint hearted:

Click to reveal..

There is a bit of a pause after the 1812 Overture and just when you are getting up to see why the next track isn't playing.... BOOM!!!! Cannon fire. I don't often jump but I'll admit to a pretty good twitch.

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With great power comes Awesome irresponsibility.

OOPS..my bad re: the post above.... Apparently Decca had planned to release Dorati's recording in SACD (http://www.stereophile.com/news/081604mercury/) but they instead released it as part of their "Original Series" but not in the SACD format.

I have all these in my collection and have resounding sonics not to mention their ultimate musicality and deeply emotional and moving arguments. There are so many more possibilities. If anyone is interested in certain genres, moods, styles...I am sure the knowledgeable folks on this forum can give great recommendations.

The a cappella version of "Tom's Diner" by Suzanne Vega from the Solitude Standing album was one of the standard test selections for audio codec listening tests in Canada, the U.K. and Australia. I participated in the Ottawa tests for several days. If the data rate went below 320 kbps with virtually all of the lossy codecs, her voice would get a bit metallic and sibilant sounding. That track was very revealing of compression artifacts.

Cheers,Alan

Hi Alan,This may not be appropriate here but I have tried almost everywhere and i need help.I bought the Onkyo TXNR609 because it has a USB input to be able to playback FLAC files.1. I am disappointed to find that the play back of the ripped FLAC (44.1/16), via USB into Receiver, is not as good as the original CD.2. My equipment: LG HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GMA-4020B ripping drive, Cambridge Audio 650BD DVD/CD player, Onkyo TXNR609 Receiver (with USB input having 192/24 DACs but only plays up to 96/24 FLAC files via USB).Q1:Which is the weak link in the rip/playback chain? (a) Ripper drive, (b) EHD/USB output to Receiver or (c) receiver? I would personally discount (c). But I do not have enough knowledge to say which of the other two links. The track ripped by EAC gives a confidence 2 and ripped by dBpoweramp gives an accuracy of 2. Does this show I may need something like Plextor 230A or similar for ripping to a high accuracy? Or is there another reason? I need to eliminate the cause before I rip all my CDs.The track used as a test is U2, The Joshua Tree, Where the streets have no name.Any help will be most appreciated. Regards William